The Do’s & Don’ts of Posting on Social Media After a Car Accident
April 3, 2018

Warner Robins, Houston

Some of the tips for filing a strong personal injury claim are obvious. For example, it is clear why accident victims should document their injuries and save all relevant paperwork from their health care provider. Other strategies for building a successful case may not be as clear, though. If you use social media to connect with friends and distant loved ones, it may seem perfectly reasonable to post health updates online; however, an attorney will strongly advise you against doing so because it could ultimately jeopardize the claim.

Do:

Adjust Your Privacy Settings

As soon as you decide to file an accident claim, check the privacy settings on all profiles, and make sure they are only visible to friends or followers. Although this will not stop a strategic insurance adjuster from accessing certain posts, it will serve as the first line of defense.

Tell Friends to Talk to You on Other Platforms

Chances are friends and loved ones will want to check in and see how you’re recovering. Let them know how much you appreciate their love and support, and then ask them to reach out via phone or email. Even if you update all privacy settings, some friends may still make public posts, and if they publish something about you, the opposing party might see it.

Don’t:

Accept Any Friend Requests From Strangers

After filing an insurance claim, an attorney will advise you to approach every friend request with skepticism. If you do not know the individual personally, ignore the request until the case has been resolved. You may also want to go through your current friends and followers and remove those you have never met in person. All it takes is a friend of a friend to infiltrate your profile and obtain evidence for the opposing party.

Post About the Case

This may be an obvious tip, but it’s worth repeating. If you are going to remain active on social media while the case is pending, avoid posting about it—or your recovery—in the meantime. The internet is far from secure, even with the strictest privacy settings enabled, and once you publish a post, an attorney will tell you anyone can theoretically access it at some point.

If you were hurt in a collision and want expert legal guidance during every stage of the claims process, turn to The Walker Firm. Based in Warner Robins, GA, the law firm is proud to represent clients throughout the surrounding areas, including Centerville, Bonaire, Macon, Perry, and Byron. In addition to personal injury law, their lawyers practice criminal defense and traffic law. Visit their website or call (478) 923-4152 to schedule an initial consultation with an accident attorney today.